 Captain Bryan Moore P.O. Box 1120 Covington, Louisiana 70434 (985) 276-1391
St. Tammany Parish has more navigable waterways than any other Louisiana parish. The Operations division consists of a large fleet of boats that are spread throughout the parish to provide quick response. In addition, the division has a fleet of several personal watercraft (Jet Ski, Sea-Doo). These are used for routine patrol on St. Tammany's recreational waterways, such as rivers and bayous. Deputies working in the Operations division have received specialized training in water rescues and special tactics to be used in watercraft. Deputies work closely with the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to ensure safety on the water. Deputies are subject to call out 24 hours a day/7 days a week for emergencies such as lost boaters, disabled vessels, and accidents.
 In addition to the deputies working on watercraft, the Sheriff's Office has a highly trained Dive Team. The team trains monthly and is also subject to call out for emergencies. The team has proven to be a valuable asset as they have provided assistance with vehicle accidents on bridges, boat accidents, and the recovery of items lost in the water such as evidence from crime scenes.
 The Sheriff's Office Reserve division consists of over 50 deputies who receive receive the same training and perform the same work as full-time deputies. The only difference between full-time and reserve deputies is that reserves are volunteers. This group of highly dedicated people donates their time and talents to community. Besides their training from the Sheriff's Office, many of the reserves have special skills from their full-time jobs which assist the Sheriff's Office in its operation such as being doctors, paramedics, firemen and lawyers. Two reserve deputies currently serve on the SWAT team as paramedics. The Reserve division has a mounted patrol division which functions at festivals, parades, and shopping centers during holiday seasons. In addition, the division has a bicycle unit used at festivals, neighborhoods, and high-volume shopping areas.
 From training dogs to controlling the animal population, the Operations division plays a major role in the community. Deputies have dogs that are trained in finding lost people in wooded areas as well as the ability to locate bodies and items in rivers and lakes. Operations deputies have also received specialized training to capture stray animals, and assist Animal Control when needed. These deputies work closely with the St. Tammany Parish Animal Shelter to ensure safety for all citizens from vicious animals and loose livestock. To contact Animal Control, call the shelter at 809-0183. In March 1998, the Sheriff's Office acquired a full-size mobile command center at a cost of approximately $250,000. The vehicle is equipped with seven radio dispatch stations multiple phone jacks, a fax machine, a computer, a mini-kitchen, a bathroom, rising exterior lights on the roof, side lighting equipment, and cell and radio boosters. The unit is used at crime scenes, haz-mat incidents, searches which may last several hours/days, and any other emergency situation where the mobile command center would be helpful. When the command center is not being used for an emergency, it is stationed in shopping centers during the holiday season, school zones to encourage obedience to traffic laws, subdivisions to increase visibility, and high crime areas as a substation for deputies. If you'd like the command center at an event, please contact Capt. Bryan Moore at 985-276-1391. |
